After the Rain…

An autumn trip to the Blue Mountains delivered the goods with spectacular weather conditions.  From heavy showers and brooding skies to brilliant warm sunshine.  This visit had it all.  

The first five images portray a dawn stroll from Blackheath to Fort Rock.  In thick fog, I hiked up to the rock and waited for the murky gloom to lift.  Cold to the bone, even in three layers, I was about to retreat when miraculously the fog lifted!  Bright sunshine burnt off the moisture and provided perfect conditions for stunning images.  The quick or the dead - within minutes the magical conditions had vanished.  

En route to Fort Rock, there is the prettiest of waterfalls.  The harsh sunlight was not ideal, but the image gives you an idea. I’ll look up it’s name.  

Hassans Walls Lookout (near Lithgow) is the highest scenic lookout in the Blue Mountains at approximately 1,100 metres above sea level. Looking out to Mount Wilson, Mount York, Mount Tarana and Mount Blaxland and the whole Hartley Valley below. To the south are the Kanimbla and Megalong Valleys and Mount Bindo (1,363 metres).

Therabulat Lookout (Dhurabulla in the local indigenous language) is named after the indigenous people who lived in the Megalong Valley. It is tucked away along the Bonnie Doon trail that starts in a very unassuming fashion at the end of a suburban street in Katoomba (Cnr of Farnells and Stuarts roads). The walk to the lookout is very short which makes the stunning view of Nellie’s Glen all the more impactful. Just because it’s so unexpected.

The view from Therabulat is framed by rugged cliffs on each side, much like the Fletchers lookout at Wentworth Falls. There is also some room for exploring the ledge on which the lookout sits.   

The first two images  of Nellie’s Glen were captured late afternoon under threatening cloud.  I actually had to pack up in haste as a sudden downpour hit.  The third captured in mellow afternoon sunshine the following day.

My final day was spent exploring Minnehaha Falls at Katoomba, not far from my hotel.   

Minnehaha Falls, Katoomba Blue mountains NSW - Pioneer walks

A beautiful hike down to the swimming hole at the base of the waterfall.  Skirting the canyon to your left, you descend via a rocky path that features steel railings and stairs.  It’s quite steep so tread carefully.  Winding down this path, you eventually arrive at a beautiful waterhole at the base of the falls.  In summer it’s a popular swimming spot, but on this perfect day I had the place to myself.